Farm Programs & Local Resources
Last Updated: March 2026 | Always verify with your local USDA office. Report an error
About Uintah County
Temperatures in Uintah County range from a January mean low of 11°F to a July mean high near 87°F. Annual precipitation averages 12.0 inches. Expect about 214 frost-free days.
Uintah County ran 1,023 farms, 1,866,195 acres of farmland, and 32,330 head of cattle in the 2022 Census of Agriculture. Top commodities: cattle, corn, and sheep.
Quick Facts
| Region | Northeast Utah |
| Top Commodities | Cattle & calves, Corn, Sheep, Vegetables, Horses, Goats |
Current Conditions
Drought status: Extreme Drought (D3). LFP-eligible for 52+ weeks — check FSA for livestock forage assistance.
Source: U.S. Drought Monitor · Updated 2026-09-08
Your Local USDA Offices
Your nearest USDA Service Center houses both NRCS (conservation programs like EQIP and CSP) and FSA (loans, disaster assistance, farm numbers). Here are the offices serving Uintah County.
USDA Service Center (NRCS + FSA)
80 N 500 W, Vernal, UT 84078
Office info is from USDA’s published directory. Call ahead to confirm hours before visiting.
What to do when you call: Ask to schedule a meeting with a conservation planner (for EQIP/CSP) or a loan officer (for FSA programs). Mention the type of operation you run and what improvements you're considering.
Forage and Grazing in Uintah County
Pasture and rangeland make up roughly 92% of farmland in Uintah County, about 1,722,760 acres. On a 2021–2025 satellite average, green-up typically begins around March and forage peaks in May. FSA sets the county’s normal grazing period separately; ask your office to confirm it, because LFP counts only the drought weeks that fall inside it.
Farm Structure in Uintah County
Farms in Uintah County average 1,824 acres, and about 48% are small operations. Roughly 21% of producers are 65 or older, which is where succession and transfer planning tends to come up. About 56,117 acres are irrigated.
What Tends to Fit in Uintah County
Uintah County's top commodities in the 2022 Census were cattle, grain, and corn. That mix shapes which conservation practices tend to be worth asking about — for grazing operations, prescribed grazing, livestock water development, and cross-fencing; for row-crop ground, cover crops, residue management, and ARC/PLC election; and for rangeland, brush management. Your local NRCS office sets the ranking pools each year and can tell you which ones your operation falls into.
Programs for Uintah County Operations
Based on Uintah County's agricultural profile, these programs are most relevant:
EQIP programs emphasize irrigation efficiency and rangeland health improvements in coordination with energy development activities. Conservation practices focus on maintaining agricultural productivity while accommodating industrial land uses in the basin.
Not sure which programs fit? Run our free eligibility screener. Two minutes, personalized action packet.
Local Conservation Priorities
Each county's NRCS Local Working Group sets the conservation practices that score highest for EQIP funding. Knowing your county's priorities before you apply can significantly improve your ranking.
How to find your county's priorities:
- Call your local NRCS office and ask: "What practices is the Local Working Group prioritizing this year?"
- Ask which EQIP ranking pool your operation fits (there may be separate pools for livestock, cropland, forestry, etc.)
- Check your state NRCS website for published ranking criteria
Bordering Counties
If your operation extends into or you compare conditions against adjacent counties, see Garfield County, Colorado, Moffat County, Colorado, Rio Blanco County, Colorado, Carbon County, Utah, Daggett County, Utah, and Duchesne County, Utah. Ranking criteria and cost-share rates can vary county by county even within the same state.
Your Next Steps in Uintah County
- Run the eligibility screener: Free Screener
- Find your USDA Service Center: Service Center Locator
- Read the Utah guide: Utah Farm Programs Guide
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